Moscow's Motor Show 2005 to feature cars from over 1000 carmakers

Motor Show 2005, Moscow's ninth international car show, will feature vehicles from more than 1,000 companies representing 28 countries, an event organizer said Wednesday.

Alexander Kovrigin, chairman of the board of directors of Avtoselmash holding (ASM-Holding), said 650 Russian companies would present the latest developments of national auto industry at the August 24-28 show at Moscow's Expo Center.

"Such countries as Poland, the Czech Republic, Finland, and South Korea will present their products for the first time," he said.

Nikolai Sorokin, deputy chairman of the industry department of the Russian Industry and Energy Ministry, said the country's auto market, which totaled $18 billion in 2004, "is oriented to international standards," reports RIA Novoti.

"A few months have passed since Automobile Producers Association sealed an agreement with us for Motor Show-2006," Alexander Kovrigin said to Kommersant. Kovrigin is absolutely sure ASM Holding will remain the Show’s arranger.

But Pyotr Kirchev, head of Crocus Motor Show and former official of Expocenter, thinks different. Kirchev said Crocus Expo has all chances not only to host the Motor Show-2006, but also to arrange it, the more so that the indoor exhibition area reaches 95,000 sq. m. there.

To get ready for Motor Show-2006, Crocus Expo holds Interavto Show September 2-7 to be attended by Ford, GM, Citroen, GM-AvtoVAZ, Avtoframos, TagAZ, Avtotor and a handful of car makers from China.

As to the Motor Show-2006, Crocus promises to hold it up to the international standards and has even declared the prices in advance - $195 and $165 per a sq. m., provided it will be an arranger.